Definitions HQ

Promise (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠kept because of government, not government obeyed because of promises: without its sanction, promises would have little force in a large society.

A Promise (n.) soon ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠comes to consist wholly of its words — a man is bound though he secretly withholds his intention, yet not bound if he speaks in evident jest.

A Promise (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the sanction of the interested commerce of mankind: a form of words by which a man stakes his right ever to be trusted again.

A Promise (n.) cannot ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠ground obedience: ask why we must keep our word and the only answer — society needs it — would have explained obedience directly, without the detour.

A Promise (n.) would ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be as mysterious and incomprehensible an operation as transubstantiation or holy orders, if its obligation sprang from the will.

A Promise (n.) would ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be idle where love was already strong: why bind another by a deed or promise to do me good, when he is already prompted by the strongest inclination to seek my happiness?

A Promise (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠naturally unintelligible: it would mean willing a new obligation — a new sentiment — and we can no more change our sentiments by will than the motions of the heavens.